On this Monday, May 1st, Chicago will see the second pro-Illegal Immigration “Rally” in downtown Chicago. For whatever reason, organizers (emboldened by a lack of enforcement of the current immigration laws) think that parading people through the city will bolster public support for illegal immigrants.
A couple interesting things in advance of the protest/rally/whatever:
Immigration is not distinguished from illegal immigration… and the effects that illegality has on the jobs that illegal immigrants can hold. (Activists say it’s no surprise Chicago immigration rally set tone for the nation):
Organizers here say they’re planning another march for May 1 to commemorate May Day, the international holiday honoring laborers. Though they’re are unsure how many people will turn out, they say the issue is too important to not try for another mass demonstration.
“I haven’t seen the spirits of the 1970s and 1960s until now,” Zavala said. “This is really surprising. People are marching in the thousands everywhere. It indicates how deeply the immigrant and Mexican community in the United States feel about the attacks on immigrants.”
This is indeed a curious choice. As Wikipedia describes “International Workers’ Day (a name used interchangably with May Day) is the commemoration of the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, and a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement…Due to these left-wing overtones, May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various socialist, communist, and anarchist groups.”
So what is this exactly? This is not about immigrants’ rights. Immigrants from Mexico are no different from those who came before them from Ireland, Italy, and elsewhere. The difference is the way that these particular immigrants have come - by breaking the law and expecting to be thanked for it.
What’s the tie between marging on Communist Workers Day and Illegal Immigants all about?
You have to follow the money. As long as we give a wink & nod to to illegal immigrants (call them guest workers or whatever you would like), you are by definition creating an underclass who does work for less than the prevailing wage. Forget that bull about doing jobs that others won’t do… what’s really meant is that because they are illegal, they will also work for less money than other workers. So how many are working for less than minimum wage? How exactly is this working to protect the exploitation of these workers?
Also, can someone please explain the tie to Labor Unions? (Labor group backs May 1 immigration rally)
“Immigrants’ rights are workers’ rights,” Dennis Gannon said at a rally at Randolph and Des Plaines. Gannon, head of the Chicago Federation of Labor, pledged support for pro-immigrant rallies planned for May 1, which is May Day — International Workers Day.
OK, I can see one angle… newly minted US citizens can all be a potential new source of labor union members, but other than that… how exactly is this promoting the rights of workers?
So maybe it’s not really about “workers’ rights. What else could it be about. In another interesting footnote (Organizers Prepare For Monday’s Immigration Rally)
Asked where participants recommend the line be drawn between no immigration at all and absolutely unrestricted immigration, Gaete Tapia said that has yet to be determined. He said the purpose of the immigration rally is to demonstrate solidarity and open a dialogue as equals, not subordinates over the shape of immigration legislation to come.
What? Yet to be determined? So is this about the HR bill or not? But if they are still trying to figure out exactly how ‘open’ they propose making the borders, how are immigration laws to be changed? Sure, no one can explain exactly how granting citizenship to this latest group of lawbreakers will stop more people from pouring over the border. Sure, no one can explain how having open borders actually protects us. But let’s not think about that for a moment.
In an interesting development, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago indicates that there should be Muslim support for the rally. (MUSLIMS MUST JOIN MONDAY MAY 1 IMMIGRATION RALLY!, 25 April 2006). To quote:
It is also about respect for all. Muslims, like Latinos, have faced undue mistreatment and abuse. “More than 500,000 Muslims have suffered since 9/11. It’s about time that we say no to fear and stand up for our rights and the rights of other people. We need to march on May 1,” said Mujahid. Currently, there are reports by Muslims and non-Muslims of years of backlog and delays to their obtaining citizenship, even when all of the rules have been obeyed, the paperwork completed and fees paid.
This sounds good and all, and the immigration paperwork nightmare is certain in need of fixing. But give me a break… people are not deported who in the proper process of obtaining citizenship due to processing delays. I’m not sure exactly who the half-million mistreated Muslims are, but the illegal aliens have not earned the “rights” for which they are standing up.
But leave the P.C. nonsense to the Chicago Police Department. Chicago Police Announce Public Safety Plans for Immigration Rights March):
Immigration rights marchers are expected to peacefully rally around the downtown area on Monday, exercising their First Amendment rights. Chicago Police and other city agencies said they
